December 31, 2015

Walter C. Phelan
Walter C. “Walt” Phelan, 86, died Tuesday (Dec. 29, 2015) at Baptist Village Retirement Communities following a brief illness.
He was a native of Kansas City, Kan., but lived most of his life in Waycross.
He was the son of the late Walter D. Phelan and Thelma Anderson Phelan Jones and was preceded in death by his step-father, Burt Jones, and several siblings.
He was a member of Waycross First Assembly and was a supporter of To The Nations, a ministry led by Martha Grice. He retired as a rural postal carrier in 1994 after many years of service.
He attained the rank of sergeant with the United States Army during the Korean War with the 224th Tank Company of the 224th Infantry Regiment of the 40th Infantry Division.
He loved to spend his time restoring houses and cars and especially enjoyed riding and traveling on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He even obtained a handicap tag for his Harley later on in his life.
He and his wife, Janette Cason Phelan, would have celebrated 61 years of marriage Jan. 22, 2016.
He is also survived by five daughters, Susan Rumfelt (husband, Sam) of Lake Wylie, S.C., Linda Pearson (husband, Kenny), of Waycross, Pat Rios (husband, David), of Panama City Beach, Fla., Nita Reed (husband, John), of Hahira, and Mindee Tindall (husband, Jon), of Waycross; 11 grandchildren, Kristin Hawkins, David Carr, Trey Pearson, Ashlee Land, Taylor Smith, Skylar Reed, Lauren Reed, Nathan Tindall, Cason Tindall, Fletcher Tindall, and Tessa Tindall; seven great-grandchildren, Garrett Hawkins, Isabella Carr, Abigail Carr, Rian Pearson, Alisha Pearson, Josiah Pearson and Lillie Land; a special niece, Deena King, of Waycross; siblings, “Neet” Tolleth, Bob Phelan and Kathy Hartman, all of California, and Faye Garneau, of Washington, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations are requested to be made to To the Nations, P.O. Box 426, Waycross, Ga. 31502
A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. today at Music Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends from 3:30 until 4:30 p.m. at Music Funeral Home.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.musicfuneralhome.com
Music Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Iris F. Hitt
Iris F. Hitt, 74, passed away Wednesday morning (Dec. 30, 2015) at her residence.
She was born in Columbus, Miss., Dec. 6, 1941. She was a 1959 graduate of Lee High School, Columbus, Miss., and a member of Blackshear First United Methodist Church.
After 26 years of service, she retired in 2005 from the City of Waycross as manager of TV Channel 42.
She was the daughter of the late Ira and Marguerite Freeman. She was preceded in death by her husband, Darrell R. Hitt, whom she married Jan. 29, 1959, and her grandson, Devon Ira Hitt.
Survivors include three sons, David Hitt (Cindy), of Waycross, Jim Hitt (Amy), of Blackshear, and Gary Hitt (Kimberly), of Oak Harbor, Wash.; four grandsons, Dustin Hitt (Skye), of New Orleans, La., Damian Hitt, of Bradenton, Fla., Patrick Hitt, of Waycross, and Jacob Hitt, of Oak Harbor, Wash.; five granddaughters, Abby and Hana Hitt, of Blackshear, Sara Jane Hitt, of Waycross, Madelyn and Gracie Hitt, of Oak Harbor, Wash.; one great-grandson, Jackson Hitt; one brother, David Freeman (Bobby), of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; one sister, Susan French (Jessie), of Atlanta; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Blackshear First United Methodist Church.
Visitation will be 10 until 11 a.m. at the church.
Interment will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org, or Blackshear First United Methodist Church, 225 Church St., Blackshear, Ga. 31516.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.musicfuneralhome.com